Laura Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 I know this is lengthy, but here is what happened....I listed a baby carriage for sale on craigslist....I was first asked if it was still available...I replied it was...I then recieved the response below...I then received ANOTHER SAME EXACT senario reply to this ad, but with a different email address...now both parties have my email address...but I have not gone any further with no information given on my side. I can not figure this out?? It smells FISHY to me. Any thoughts?? Laura -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for getting back to me, and am okay with the price and the condition and i will like to make an outright purchase of this particular item immediately because i noticed that you are serious seller, i anticipate that a cashier check or certified check will be sent to you via express mail or ups as the mode of payment, concerning the pick up, i will be responsible for that, where my mover will come for the pick up at your location upon your confirmation of receiving the payment and i want you to remove this item from the ad..So i will send the payment which will include the pick up charges in which you will make payable to the mover immediately you receive the payment to avoid the delay. Also i have other packages they will be picking for me around your location which i will like the to pick up with your item, would really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame and the family issue for the year that might not be possible and i will like you to provide the information below so that the payment will be done as soon as possible:- 1.......Full Name 2.......Full Home Address 3.......City, State & Zip code 4.......Tel# As soon as this is provided i will let you know when payment is mailed out and i will update you on when you will receive the payment, and give you instructions on what to do..I hope we handle this in good faith.. Thanks while waiting to hear from you 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad and Belinda Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Laura, Yes...It is a scam. I always post things on craigslist...and always get these type of responses! I NEVER ship anything! I only do local CASH sales. It's sad to say, but there are a lot of scammers / freaks out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rjohn Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 I think this is a scam. Ignore it, IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Posted November 1, 2009 Author Share Posted November 1, 2009 I thought so...but what are they looking for? They are not asking to have me ship it...they are supposed to send me cash...they are wanting a driver to pick it up...so I will lose nothing, it seems, but they will have all my info as asked above...what could they do with that info? I can't figure it out, not unless they are wanting to put me on a mailing list, but they are alslo asking me to remove the item from craigslist.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad and Belinda Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Not sure. I just know that we don't deal with people like this and will only do local sales. I also don't hand out our information until I know that someone is coming to pick an item up. I would'nt call it being paranoid, just being cautious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polarbear Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 well Laura, seeing that they want 1.......Full Name 2.......Full Home Address 3.......City, State & Zip code 4.......Tel# and that they are having a drivier come by and pick it up, they are more then likely trying to rob you. See, they get your address and phone number then call you to see if you will be home. If you say no then they will probably ask if there is anyone else there that can take the money when the driver comes. If you say no then they have you address and the knowledge that no ones home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diabeetus Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 SCAM!!! no third party pick-ups!! EVER! and never let let them send you money in the mail when a third party is gonna pick it up anyway. i have had similar scams with fish tanks in the past, even a brnd new 08 nissan titan! scamers are everywhere! good call mama! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Laura, it's a known scam, you can check Craigslist FAQs, but I've had this tried on me. The scam is basically in this part: " i anticipate that a cashier check or certified check will be sent to you via express mail or ups as the mode of payment," They have no intention of buying or sending anyone to pick up your item. Instead they send you a cashier's check for more than your price, so if you're asking $100, they send you $3000 cashier's check. When contacted they'll tell you it was a mistake, but to go ahead and deposit the CC and then wire them the difference but keep an extra $100 for your effort. The idea is that you'll wire them $2800 directly from your account. Due to how messed up our banking system is it can take banks 4-6 weeks to determine that the Cashier's Check is a fraud, at which time they'll reverse the $3000 deposit that was made to your account. Then you'll be out not only that $3k, but also the $2800 you sent by wire. The bank will do nothing to protect you. I worked for First Interstate for two years as a Senior Teller way back in the early 90s. Back then Cashier's Checks were useful, now they are worth less than money orders or cash. If you sell on Craigslist then you should only do so for cash, and you should state so in all of your ads in bold letters. I go so far as to have a blurb I put on all my ads, "Scammers beware, this sale is for cash only. No cashier's checks, money orders, personal checks, or credit cards will be accepted." Then go by Office Depot or Office Max and pick up some currency pens for about $3ea, then kind you swipe across cash to determine if it's counterfeit or not. Counterfeit Detector Pens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diabeetus Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 yeah, did they also say they would give you more money if you took it off of craigslist right now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reybeast Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 (edited) yep, Mike nailed it exactly! Edited November 1, 2009 by Reybeast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad and Belinda Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Chad said that generally they will offer a "safe check" like a cashiers checks. Then they accidentally overpay (by a long shot) and ask you to refund the difference OR they actually come by and pay with a "safe" check and the check always turns out to be a worthless check printed from a laser printer that will take several days possibly to show up. They are trying to come across as an honest and credible person. Either way, they are most likely out of state or out of the country which means very few if any law enforcement agencies will or can follow up and if so, few counties/ cities will pay for extradition of a criminal back here for an offence like this. Like id/ credit card theft. The bank or credit card companies almost always reimburse you so in the eyes of the written law they become the victims, not you. Because it is not worth their time to spend money on helping prosecute these thieves (such as employee time assisting police) they typically don't worry about charges that are $10,00 and even more unless the criminal and the bank are local. Law Enforcement has few choices but to drop the charges at the banks request and these criminals know it. This email could be a "bot" and just send these replies out to all the ads in the area it's scanning. If they get a reply and it's on something they can make good money on, then they follow up on it to see how far you will go. Could be a lot of different scams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Posted November 1, 2009 Author Share Posted November 1, 2009 you guys are awesome....now I get it...and I thought New Yorker's were supposed to be up on their stuff I'm so ashamed and to think they were going after me for a BABY carriage...jeez!!!! Thank you ALL for responding. This is a great family we have here 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooks Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 It has already been said, but it is a scam. A while back, my father was selling a treadmill on Craig's List. He got about 3 or 4 responses, most asking for the same thing; Address, Phone, etc. One of them actually asked for a SS code, which we got a laugh out of. I always hear that you should meet the person who is buying/selling at a very active place such as a mall, coffee place, etc. Here is an e-mail I recently received that I thought was pretty funny, but also sad as it is real. Dear sir: This is www.r________t.com, we are located in German,we will offer the totally different service with the chinese guy,we efficient,fast and we quality. We have been done this job for more than one year,and we know what our customber needed,what we should do and we r improving. If you got any question,you culd just simply login to our 24/7 livechit on the website or contact us by the msn: [email protected]. We always here waiting for a single time to surve you. Thanks again. Yours truthfally, www.r_________t.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 It is a scam and you already fell for the first part. Part is the EMAIL FARMING and harvesting. By replying at all to a vague ad such as "do you still have this item?" (never reply to those), you've supplied the individual with your email account information that they can now sell to possible spammers. They know that they can try and sell you baby items. They almost got your full personal information in the next reply. Not to mention that once you open the first reply after the "form reply", you are possibly now infected with spywarer, malware, trojan horses, or ghost machine. So as many have pointed out that the old Nigerian 409/411/419 scam is to send out the scam check, most are unaware of the newer problems.... I use CL everyday, in fact I just got back from a long drive to Galveston to buy 2 pinball machines, but keep in mind that it is as risky as you allow it to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 Thanks caferacer...I have shown my husband every reply, including yours, and he is certain we are fully protected. I hope everyone has learned something here and I appreciate all the help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaceyJ Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Mama, I am a senior fraud prevention specialist for a Major corporation. I spend all day analyzing and preventing internet fraud. If you have any questions on the subject, I can talk your ears off That being said, trust yourself. If any question/statement seems out of place or makes you question the validity, it is fraud. Another big sign is odd punctuation/spelling/grammar. Look for simple common words which are misspelled, as in little reef's example " we are located in German,we will offer the totally different service with the chinese guy,we efficient,fast and we quality". Most of the major fraud rings operate from West Africa, Russia and Vietnam. I have seen some very cunning methods used. I would say I hate fraudsters, but without them, I would not have a job. If ANYONE has questions on the subject, feel free to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 Mama, I am a senior fraud prevention specialist for a Major corporation. I spend all day analyzing and preventing internet fraud. If you have any questions on the subject, I can talk your ears off That being said, trust yourself. If any question/statement seems out of place or makes you question the validity, it is fraud. Another big sign is odd punctuation/spelling/grammar. Look for simple common words which are misspelled, as in little reef's example " we are located in German,we will offer the totally different service with the chinese guy,we efficient,fast and we quality". Most of the major fraud rings operate from West Africa, Russia and Vietnam. I have seen some very cunning methods used. I would say I hate fraudsters, but without them, I would not have a job. If ANYONE has questions on the subject, feel free to ask. Good to know Kacey as I am always getting myself into trouble I just want to sell the flippin' baby carriage!!!! oy..... Thanks you so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexKilpatrick Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 One time a server I was running got compromised as used as a place for a phisher to check email. We happened to get on while he was checking the responses, so we could see everything that came in. It was amazing how much people would share -- account numbers, routing numbers, even PINs! However, if you open a malicious web page you are probably ok as long as your OS patches and virus checker is up to date, especially if you don't install anything from those pages. I don't know of any current malware or viruses that can install just from viewing a webpage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 It's not from the webpage, it's done by opening an email. Especially ones that send you pictures of something asking you to "open" the picture. As to what I said above about them "farming" or "phishing" here is an unwarranted email I got today. "Re : Go-Cart-----Gasoline 4 hp 126cc's--------Run's Great!!!!++++++++++ - $350 ... Mon, November 2, 2009 11:04:30 AM From: janna reid <[email protected]> ... Add to Contacts To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] ** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY ** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home ** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping ** More Info:CL.org/about/scams.html Do this for a better quality life up to $2,976 per month 11hrs a week up to $4,975 per month 25hrs a week 02 People Needed asap! (HTTP:/infectwebsite-address/deleted-by/me.com) bsuyiwkrl" /////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Ok isn't that nice? Reply to a go-cart? WTF? I've never had a go-cart, never wanted one. However I can guarantee you how this person got my email addie, 1) I either answered a fraudulent advert on CL advertising something I wanted and by replying to their ad they now have my email account and no the types of things I will respond to. 2) They replied to my CL listing asking if I still had it or something very vague. Not thinking I quickly said yes. Heck I probably told them to call me and gave them my phone number. My bad. The point is that they now have my email address and can constantly change the email header and email address. I typically never open those types of headers, those that I wouldn't recognize, and just hit spam. well as you can see by sending me an email that has something to do with my hobbies, they think I will open the email and just be so wowed by their clever advert for a "better life" that I will immediately open their bogus website which in turn will probably ghost ride my machine allowing them to either control my machine as a server for their deeds or it will record all my personal info and they can retrieve it at will. That is why I will generally not respond to an email that comes from CL that has a vague copy/paste header-title or a copy/paste of my advert and/or a simple "still have this item?" Why would you say "item"? I want someone that is excited by my junk and will call it by its name. Also there must be a phone number. PERIOD. It's the same thing I said in my "rules for buying/selling" thread response. I post that in my CL ad that if you do not provide a phone number so I can tell you are a real person, then you cannot buy my junk. I will only sell to those that I have spoken to on the phone. I will never complete a CL buy/sale without having spoken on the phone with the interested party. Period. It's also for my safety. If there should be a criminal activity, say someone lures me out to buy a chainsaw for $200, they know I'm carrying $200. Should they decide to attempt a mugging instead of a sale, I can then give the police the phone number. You must know how to protect yourself these days, like always send your credit card payment via registered signature mail only. That way when they try to say you didn't get it to them by the due date you can screw em in court with your returned postcard they had to sign when they accept your payment. HA! So yeah there are screwy people out there so you need to have a system to protect yourself. Another useful tool I have is that I use a bogus email address for my CL deals. It's just another free Yahoo account but man it keeps my regular email address spam free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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